Sheet-feeding machine.



H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9.19U4

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. C. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAE.8,1904.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 3 BHEBTST'EHEET 24 H. C. LA BATT.

HEET FEEDIN G MACHINE.

UNITED eras s PAEENT FFICE.

ILLIAM J. HERRICK, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 8. 1.90%.

Serial No. 137,083.

Be itknown that a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention has reference. to a machine for transmitting or delivering sheets of paper to a printing press. folding machine, ruling machine, or other machine empl0y ing or acting upon sheets of paper. I

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved feeder which is so constructed and arranged that. it may be easily moved into and out of operative position, and which. when the associated machine is provided with a feed board or table, may be located under the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of guides capable of adjustment in order to vary their position in accordance with the different requirements arising from the character of the paper.

Other objects will be apparent. from the description and claims.

The invention consists of the combinations, arrangements. and organization of parts hereinafter particularly described and then pointed out in the claims.

n the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one en'ibmliment of my invention, Figure l is aside elevation of the feeding machine of my invention shown in connection with the delivin'y end of a sheetsepa ratimg machine and the rear end of a printin press. and illustrating the feeding machine in its operative position; Fig. 2 is a i plan view of the same. with the printing press removed: Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the feeding machine. shown associated with a sheet. separating machine and a printing" press, but with its extensible section in its retracted inoperative position; Fig. 4 is a. detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through the feeding machine showing the feeding tapes and rollers carrying the same, as well as the adjustable guides associated with the tapes; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the rack bar and pinion connection for advanein r and retracting the extensible section of the feedingmachinc; and Fip (i is a detail view of means for holding t 1e exftensible section I. HOMER (7. LA BAT'I.

i l l l i I i l l l l I 1 Z l l l l of against movement tracted positions.

The feeding machine may be supported or mounted in any suitable manner, as for example as illustrated, and comprises a pair of slide rails C, (j. which are carried by bra kets bolted to the side members a of the frame of a sheet separating machine A. The forward ends of the rails C are supporied by block; c carried by brackets e fastened to the frame of the printing press Ii. The side rails (l are so disposed that the forward ends of the same extend under the tear end of the feed board or table I) of the printing press and serve to support the extensible section of the machine. extensible se tion in the present embodirnent of the invention comprises a pair of side bars D. movable through or in guide the feeding machine in its advanced or reaperturee formed in blocks or boxes (1 fixed to the side rails C and also through or in alincd apertures formed in the blocks o. The bars D are. tied together or connected at their rear or free ends by a cross bar 11' which is bolted at each end to blocks 1 d fixed to the ends of the bars D. I The feeding machine is provided with suitable DIQRHH for delivering the sheets to the cylinder of the printing press. In the n'csent embmlimeut. of the invention such means comprise a series of endless tapes or hands carried by each sect ion. As shown in fig. 2, the tapes 1:" pass over or around the feeding ofl' roll a of the sheet feeding machine. and a roller 0, which is mounted on a shaft journaled at its ends in the blOck (1'. Tlhese tapes are spaced apart any suitable distance and carry the sheets to the tapes r! of the extensible section, the latter tapes passing around the roller 0 and alternating with the tapes 0, being carried at their for ward ends by a' roller d which is journaled at its ends in the blocks d*, d.

The tapes may be driven in any suitable manner, as through the medium of the feedin oflroll on which is driven in any suitable manner as through the medium of the gear a. and the tapes 0" turning the roller 0 the. tapes (1* are driven at the same surface speed as the pes c",

From the I that as each-sheet .is-.;delivered to the tapes 0 such sheet. will be carriedand delivered to the tapes and by them presented to the Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

This s oregoing it will be understood I "2e extensible secno machine an in its operatiic n Iiii'l'i'li so as to deliver sheets to the print ing press. the usual hinged table section if of the hand feed board :1) being swung upwardly out or the. way to permit the dc livery end of the extensible section to cocupy the position normally occupied by the said hinged 'section. vVhen it is desired to feed the sheets to the press by hand the ex tensible section is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the fold-able section b of the printing teed boar-(J is folded down to the position shown in the latter 'tignre.

Any suitable means may be provided for advancing and retracting the extensible section of the feedii'ig machine. in the present construction the bars 1) are inside in the form of rack bars, with the teeth of which mesh pinions c, fixed upon .a cross shaft 6 journalcd in bgarin 0" depending from the guide boxes or books (I, as shown in Fig. 5. A hand Wheel 0 is keyed tothe shaft, and by turning suchhand wheel the bars D may be advanced orretracted at will,

Any suitable means may be employed for holding the extensiblesection against movement it; its operative position. In the present instance one of the rack bars D is provided with a notch or depression cl near the front end adapted to cooperate with a latch, as shown in Fig. 6, where d indicates a bolt movable through an aperture in'the block d and engaging the depression (1 The belt s fixed to a flat spring'd attached to the btoclr cl and' having its free end bent 0u.t-' wardly to permit of the spring being readily Qgrasped to withdraw the bolt. It is obvious that when the extensible section is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 the parts will co-act to lock the extensible section in such position, as shown in Fig. 6; if it is desired to lock the extensible section in its retracted position a second notch may be provided in the bar D adapted to cooperate with the it d when the extensible section is retracte Tensioning devices, such as E, may be rovided for maintaining the tapes sutticient y taut, and these tensioning devices are carried by a cross bar-e supported by brackets fixed on the sideq'ails C, and may be adjusted laterally'on the bar 5? in case of lateral adjustment of the tapes in order that they may be in the proper position tov cooperate with the tapes, being held in their adjusted position by set screws 6.

Associated-with and carried by ,the feedmg machine at its rear end is a. registering device .yvhich is designed to square or aline the front or advancing ed e of each sheet- This front register itnay oeof any suitable construction adapted to the attainment oj the desired ends. In the present embodiment of the invention it consists of a blade F which periodically and'autoinatic'aiiy lowered-into the path of the ad Yancing sheet of paper and is then raised after the front edge of the paper has been aliner. with the of the press. This biade in its operative position occupies a vertical position in the path of the paper as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is provi ed at its upper edge with a flange which not only serves to strengthen the blade, but also provides means by blade-are bolted to a pair of arms f fixed to a rock shaft f one end of which is journaled in an ear f of the support d while the other end is journaled in an extension 1 of the block d as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fixed to the shaft f is a crank arm f pivoted one end of a link f, pivoted at the other end to a slide f, inovingin a guide or way formed inthe upper face of the block Pivoted to the said block 0' is an arm f provided at its upper end with a slot which receives a stud f projecting from the slide f. The arm f is designed to be actuated by a cam, which may take the formjof a disk g, having a. radial enlargement or cam face g, fixed on a shaft 9 journaled at its ends in the blocks or boxes 0. arm f is provided with an" anti-friction roller 13 in the plane of movement ofthe disk 9 so as to be engaged at the proper time by the cam g to move the connecting rod f forwardly and through the medium of the connecting mechanism rock the shaft f and lower. the blade into the path of the advancing sheet. When the cam portion of the disk passes out of engagement with the antifriction roller f, the blade is raised in any suitable manner, as by means of springs-I 1; which are coiled about the rock shaft f as, shown in Fig. 2 and each of Which is anchor which the 'ends of the to which is Preferably the I ed at one end toone of the arms f While the other end is attached to, the supports for the shaft so as to normally exert a tendency to elevate the blade F. Theehaft g" may be driven in any preferred manner, as by-jj, bevel gear g which meshes with a gearg", fixed on a vertical shaft g, journaled in suitably supported'bearings g. l hesbaft has motion communicated to it through the medium of bevel gearing g Whip} derives motion from the associated machine, such as the printing press. It is to be 1111?. derstood, however, that the arrangement 0g the connections for driving the various ope-r ative parts of the machine is not material an ay miss. a desired;

a y spaced and connected sheets so The sheets of paper pass from the rear end of the tapes 1* to a delivery device which in the present form consists of iinget-s /i which when the extensible section is in its operative position. upy the pi sition and take the? plat-c oi the delivrrv fingers on the hinge-d scrtiou hand feed hoard The ling 1/ are niounted har I1. and zuljusti-ihly means of set screw If, as soon The blade F of the iron: gags when activeof the cured thereto hr in Fig. 4.

that the icets passing over the necessarily engage the blade. pwpcr from and sliplingers in order to prevent the sheets of passing the ends of the lingers ping under the at suitable intervals, are provided with spring extensions h fixed to the said fingers and pro ecting: in advance of the latter of the i-1.; 1

upon hraclce'ts /l. c-(irr ed hy the cross,

edge of (hr sheets jaw 5 may he rcl a l are so disthe jaw s is and in order large table to receive one from the -upes. while the lH'tlY short, jaws I posed that. the upper face of in the plant of the tapes (1* to insure hr y are arranged ilii'ergringly flared outwardly toward the from end of the machine.

position stands in advaiu-e. ol' the cnd lingers l; in the path of the moving:

blade, certain of the lingers,

in such position that the blade F rests thercon when in its depressed position. thereby rendering it impossible for a sheet to slip on the fingers and under the blade and the spring extensions. Two of the spring extensions k are extended sufficiently to projcct over the press cylinder with the press pressed position It is obvious that instead of the lingers /L the delivery device may he. in the form of a plate, as in Fig. l, which may extend substantially the width of the machine.

Associated with the feeder is suitable mechanism for registering the sides of the sheets of the=paper so as to place thc same in predetermined position for proper alinement with the cooperating part of the associatcd machine. printing press for example. istering device. designated in letter comprises generally a gripping device adapted to engage the .'de edge of the s eet and move the same laterally to adjust .1 into its predetermined position. The side register is supported in any suitable mun ner preferably at a suitable distance from the the cross bar (1.

' This side reggcncrzil by the and is so positioned upon through is. rovided with a pair of jaws a, a, suitm at their outer Edges by u weh against which the paper is such as the form of a thereof in the operation of the register, and

so as to co-at'i gages which in their (lorests upon said extensions.

l l l rear of the machine as. for example, by j such bar as to grip the paper according to mounted spring p The body in- Tin rod .s to which is rnnnerted by which it reriprm'ated is routrnlled by any suitable mechanism. In ihc mznstrurtion illustrated the block (I is provided with a suitable horizontal way in \vhichis mounted a slide 1/ provided with a pin or stud p cooperating with a cam as hereinafter explained. The rod 8" may he attached directly to the slide ,0, but in order to provide for a simple and precise adjustment of the side register the through an aperture in the support- I! and is attached to an arm 11 connected to a screw 1* having: threaded adjustment. in the outer end of the slide 7/. Mounted on the upper face of the block (1 in a suitable way 7/ is a slide provided disposed so as to receive of the slide 1).

Motion may he communicated to the cum plate or slide 71 through the medium of any suitable mechanism. As shown in the prescut construction the cam plate 77 is attached to one end of a rod 72, connected at. its other end to a slide 7), mounted in a way formed in the upper face of one of the blocks a. Fixed to the adjacent and of the cross shaft 9* is a cam disk ,0 provided with a de pression p and designed, to actuate the rod 72 in one direction for communicating mo tion to the side register. his is accomplished through the medium of an arm 1 (Fig. 3), pivotally mounted at its lower end on the associated block 0, and provided at. its upper end with slot 72 in which plays a stud 7), fixed to the slide 7). The arm 71, is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller 11" ment of the cam in order to reduce on of the parts.

The rain is designed to move the cam slide outwardly l1.- roturn the side register after its inward movement, while a nilvnnf'cs or moves the register inwardly after each impulse of the cam. The spring 7) is shown as an expansion spring coiled about a; stem 7)" fixed'to a plate f-'" on the support d and passing freely through an aperture in 9. lug p on the slide. so as to react between the said plate and ihe lu The spring holds the arm 7)" in operzil-ive relation to the cam. The action of the side register is designed the side register 8 the pin or "tad p the fric sheci entering hetwe'cn the disposed in the plane of movewith a cam slot, 2

to be rapidly acconml'ished and to this end the recess p extends only a short distance 111 the cam which extends nearly the whole of the periphery of the disk to hold the registcr normally retracted and stationary. \Vhcn the recess in the cam comes into alinement with the arm, the spring 7) moves the register (merating rod 8 inwardly and the operation then completed by the antifriction roller 7) passing upon the cam 7)" again so as to return the rod outwardly.

In the operation of the side register S, the sheet carried by the tapes (1* enters be tween the jaws in position to be engaged by the web preferably near the end of the inward movementoi" the carrier, it being ob rious, however, that the sheets will be engaged and registered it upon the lower jaw at any point within the range of movement of the carrier. The sheet is first engaged at its front edge by the front F in the manner heretofore described The front gage is then raised out of the path of the sheet which is then carried by the tapes. As soon as the sheet has been arrested by the press gages, the recess in the cam comes in register with the anti-friction roller p", permitting the spring p to expand and move the cam slide 7) rearwardly, so as to move the rod 8" in the. direction of the feathered arrow in Fig. 2 which thrusts the web of the register against the edge of the sheet. between the jaws so as to move the sheet laterally and inwardly. The sheet is released and the press gages We moved out of thoway and the sheet is taken by the grippers b of the press cylinder, in the usual manner.

Only one register S need be employed in order that the impression on both sides of the sheets may register with each other, in case the sheets are cut with accuracy so that the side edges are parallel. Under other C(llldlllOllS and in order to accommodate the machine to variations in stock, etc, a second .registerS' is employed and located at the opposite s de of the machine so as to register the sheets from the same side edge for the second impression as for the first irnpression.

To secure the best results it is desirable to have the two side registers grip the sheet at the salnepoint bet-ween its ends and the register S is therefore preferably mounted on the cross bar (Z and locatedatthe side of the machine opposite to the register 5/ The register 'S is of the same character, construction and operation as the register S, and is operated by a rod 6, connected thereto in a manner corresponding to the rod 8" with the register S, and which is connected to a slide t similar to the slide 7? and disposed paralleF'With the slide 7) in a way formed in the'upper face of the block-d It is actuated by a pin entering a cam slot E t formed in the cam slide p", such cam slot i being disposed at an angle and reversely to the slot 7/ so that the same mechanism for operating the register S may be employed for operating the register S. As these registers are designed to be operated independently of each other, only one of them operating at any time, the connecting pin 7)? is designed tofbe used with either slide, being removably inserted therein. Assuming that the sheets are to be alined by the. register S at one edge in making the impression on one side, the pin is placed on the slide 7), and the register operated in the manner already described. When the sheets have been flil through the press they are turned over so that the same side edges before adjacent the register S are now disposed adjacent the register S. The pin p is then rcmc ed from the slide 1) throwing the register it: out of operation and is inserted in the slide t thereby operating the register S so that the sheets will be registered from the same side edges for the impression upon the other face. and insure the impression upon both faces being in exact register.

ln order to permit of the advance and retraction of the extensible section of the ma.-

chine the connecting rod 79* instead of being permanently fixed to the slide p extends through apertured lugs or ears p on the said slide and is provided atits end with a shoulder 19 and ata suitable point at the opposite end of the slide with a nut which screws upon a threaded portion p of the rod as shown in Fig. 2, thereby detachably connecting the rod to the slide. When it. is desired to move the extensible section rearwardly the nut p is unscrewed, perniitting the rod p to slide through the apertnred lugs 72 in the slide, as shown;in Fig.

3. The same means are employed fordctachably connecting the connecting rod 7" to the slide to permit of movement of the extensible section, as shown in Fig. 2.

Carried by suitable brackets or'rods 7*,

which. may be bolted at suitable intervals along and transversely to the sections of the frame of the machine, are guides located just along the plane of the tapes 0 and d to hold the sheets carried by the tapes against the latter and to prevent the sheets from buckling or curling up at the edges. These guides consist of straight rods or wires 1" having their ends bent inwardly, as shown in Fig. t, to avoid interference with the paper. hese guides are designed to be adjusted vertically and laterally in order to cooperate with paper of varying thickness, flexibility and width. To provide for this vertical and lateral adjustment, the guides 1 are carried by vertical arms 1* which pass to the side registering through apertures in blocks 2* provided with set screws 7* engaging the arms to hold the latter in adjusted position. The blocks are provided with ears '2' which engage or embrace the crossroils r and. set screws r passing through the ears fix the blocks in any desired position but permit of the blocks mg moved along the rods to adjust the guides laterally. The guides 1"v may be attachedto the srmrr in any suitable manner. In the present instaznic I have shown each of the arms provided with section between -which and the arms 1" the wires are clamped by thumb nuts 7'5 Any number of the guides desired may be employed, and they may be located directly over the tapes or intermediate of the tapes. When extensible section is to be advanced or retracted in the manner heretofore described the nuts r are loosened so that the guides will slide freely in their supporting arms. The 198.! ends of the rides r of the extensible section preferalfi y extend over the delivery device of the feeder, such as the late h (Fig. 4). These guides coiipera te wit the delivery device and form a narrow throat terminating adjacent the gage F and preventing any buckling or curling of the sheets by their im act on the age.

11 the operation of making the press ready for clear and accurate printing the ressman must take a. number of proofs and then make such alterations in the tymnan as are suggested by the successive proofs until a clear and uniform impression is obtained, and it is, therefore, ncccrsary to repeatedly get at the tyinpan before the make ready is complete. The hinged section of the feed board permits ready access to the press cylinder to remove end' replace the tympan for this purpose, and by locating the automatic feeder below the board it is when in its retracted position entirely out of the way of the pressman durin these preliminary operations and in $110 relative location that the ex tensible section may then be readily moved into its operative position.

The present machine is particularly adapt ed for feeding sheets from a sheet separating and feeding machine to a paper handling machine of any suitable character, such as a printing press or the like, but it is to be understood that the sheets may, if desired, be fed to the feedin machine by hand and that the chariacter 0 the associated machine may be of any preferred type and mode of operation.

I make no claim in the present application devices herein shown as the same is reserved for and forms part of the subject-matter of my co-pending application filed June 27, 1904 Scriel Number 214,238; and I make no claim herein to the front stop mechanism herein shown as the some is reserved for and terms the subjectmatter of my divisional application filed May 31, 1904. Serial Number 210,401 issued as Patent Number 986,726, dated March 14, 1911.

Having described my invention what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. in combination with a paper hwndli machine, such 21 2t printing press, prov'id with a hand feed board having a movable delivery section, of an extensible feeder located under the board and adapted to be re ciprocuted into the space normally occupied hy the delivery section of the boa-1 d and into cooperative relation with the said machine when the movable section is. tlnmown out of the way.

2. In combination with a .paper handling machine, such as a printing press, provided with av hand feed board having -a. hinged :c'lolivery section, of a feeder having an extensible section adapted to be 'reci-procated into the space normally occupied by the delivery section of the board and underthe'board and into coiiperative relation with the swil machine when the delivery section is swung out of the way.

3. In combination with a machine, such as n printing press, having a cylinder and a hand feed boa-rd provided with a hinged delivery section normally cooperative with the cyi-nnlenof an automatic fceder grovided with an extensible delive section adapted to be reciprocal-ted into the space normally occupied by the delivery seelion of the board and into coiiperwtive relation with the cylinder when the hinged section is swung out of the way.

4. In combination with a paper handling machine, such as a printing press, havin a cylinder, :1 hand feed board provided wit a. hinged deliverv section normally coiiperating with the cylinder. of an comprising astationary and -a sliding ecclion provided with carrying tapes, the extcnsiblc section being paper handling adjustable under the board and into cooperative relation with the cylinder when the hin ed section is swung upwardly out of the why.

5. In a mechanism for tending sheets to a paper handling machine, in combination, a stationary section, a movable delivery section slid-ably carried by the stationary section. the delivery section being stationary when in operative position, and endless curryin tapes mounted on the sections to carry the s ieets over the stationary section to and over the movable section.

6. in a mechanism for feeding sheets to a. paper handling machine, in combination, a stationary section, a movable deli ery section slidably mounted on and supputed by the stationary section, endless carrying tapes automatic ,iccder carried by the two sections to carry the sheets over the stationary section to and over the movab e section and means for sliding the morabic section.

7. In a mechanism i ()l'{i\ (i*(llll sheets to a paper handling n'iachinein combination, a stationary section comprising a pair of bars, rollers journalecl between the bar endless tapes running over the rollers. a movable delivery section comprising a, pair of rack bars slidably supported by the stationary bars. a shaft provided with pinions meshing with the rack bars, and endless tapes carried hy the movable secticn to receive the sheets from the stationary section. 4

8. In a. machine of the class described, in comliiination, a stationary .ction comprising a pair of stationary bars having guide blocks, rollers journalcd between the ends of the bars, endless tapes running over the rollers, a n ovable section omprising a pair of racl: bars mounted in the guide blocks, a roller iournaled between the front ends of the rack bars, endless tapes running over the latter roller and the roller of the adjacent end of the stationary section, and an operatsha't't journaled on the guide blocks and having pinions meshing with the rack bars.

9. in a. machine of the class described, in combination, a stationary section comprising a pair of stationary bars adapted to be fixed to the delivery end of the sheet separating and feeding machine, and having a pair of guide blocks fixed to each bar, rolljournaled between the ends of the rods and carrying endless tapes. a slidable section comprising a pair of rack bars moval'ile 0n the guide blocks, a roller journaled between (he rear ends of the rack bars, tapes running over the latter roller and the roller atthe adjacent end of the stationary section, a shaft fournaled on one pair of the guide blocks and having pinions meshing with therack bars, and a. spring clog carried by one of the guide blocks and engaging the asso-- ciated rack bar to hold the slidable sect-ion against movement.

10. In a sheet feeding: machine, in combination with the frame consisting of a stationary and adjustable 1 action and provided with carrying tapes, of the cross bars carried. by each section, brackets mounted on and adjustable along the bars. verti ally adjust ahie "arms attached to the brackets, and

guide rods carried by the arms.

ll. ln a sheet feeding machine, in comhination with the carrying tapes, of a dc livery device located at the rear ends of the tapes, a front gage thereon, and guides extending fitthfiiil'iitiilily the length of the tapes and located (lcrjice.

K2. in a sheet. feeding machine, in combination with the marrying tapes, of a delivery device lo ated at the rear ends of the tapes, :1 front gage thereon eiltei'iding when in ac tire position in the path of the sheets over the deliver i device and guii'les located above and eaten g suostantialty the length 01 the tapes :-'.!\l te'" ir ting adjacent the gage.

12 in 1: sheet .ding machine, in combination 'uitn the stationary and the extensible sec -ens provided with carrying times, of the regirtering device carried by the t tensihle section, a slide supported by Lie stationary section, means for reciprocating the slide and a rod detachably connected to the slide and tor actuating the registering device.

14-. [n a sheet feeding machine, in combination with the stationary and extensible sections provided. with carrying tapes, of the registering device carried by the extensiblc section, a biock fixed to the movable section. a slide moving on. the block, a cam operated arm for moving the slide. in one direction. a spring for moving the slide in the opposite direction and a rod detachabiy connected to the slide for actnatingthe registering device.

15. in a sheet feeding machine, in combination with the stationary and extensible sections provided with carrying tapes, of the registering device and the gage carried by the extensible section, slides mounted on the stationary section, means for ing the slides, and connecting rods detachably eon ncctecl to the slides for communicating m0- i'ion from the slides to the said registerii'ig device and the gage.

In testimony whereofv I affix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

HOMER G. Let

J. M cRonnnrs.

over the tapes and the delivery 

